Wrapping means for converting a food article carton or box into a toy device

ABSTRACT

A wrapping band for converting cut standard food cartons into a toy building block, which in the form of a continuous band comprises five surface elements. Each surface element is hinged to the adjacent element or elements along a line or lines, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the band. The surface elements are connected as follows: a first end element having a closure slot for engagement with a closure tongue; a top element having a plurality of circular projections or pegs; a second end element; a bottom element having a plurality of holes corresponding to the number of pegs in the top element; and generally arrow-shaped locking tongue for engagement with the slot. The toy building block is formed when the band is secured about the carton.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wrapping band for converting cut,standard food cartons into a toy.

There are a large number of packaging cartons currently available on themarket for the packaging of food products such as milk, cream, juice andpreserves.

In general these cartons may be divided into two main types, namelycartons of the “elopak” type and cartons of the “tetrapak” type.

The present invention is described for cartons of the “elopak” type, inparticular, but it does not exceed the scope of the invention to applyit to cartons of other types.

The “elopak” cartons are characterized by a square base surface and aheight which varies according to the quantity of food to be packaged,the main sizes being {fraction (1/1)} liter, ½ liter, ⅓ liter and ¼liter.

These cartons are found in large quantities on the market and areessentially disposed of as household waste material, while to only avery small degree being subjected to any form of reuse.

In general this represents a waste of resources, and an objective of thepresent invention is to make some contribution toward alleviating thiswaste by proposing a possible form of reuse.

The intention of the present invention is to provide an article by meansof which a used carton of the type introduced above, cut or trimmed in asimple manner, may be converted into a toy.

Of the known art in this area, reference is made to NO 132,335, whichdescribes a unit composed of elements which are provided with snap-likeconnecting means, for the formation of toys, teaching aids, windowdisplays, and furnishing and decorating items.

Reference is also made to DE 39.20.886-A1, which shows containers ofvarious shapes which, after use, may be used as toy building blocks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the above, the present invention relates to a wrappingband for converting cut, standard food cartons into a toy, and this bandis characterized in that it comprises, in the form of a continuous band,five surface elements, each hinged to the adjacent element or elementsalong a line or lines perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of theband, as follows:

a) a first end element having a closure slot for engagement with aclosure tongue;

b) a top element having a plurality of circular projections, or pegs,for engagement with the holes of another toy;

c) a second end element (4);

d) an bottom element having holes for engagement with the pegs onanother toy; and

e) a generally arrow-shaped locking tongue for engagement with the slotmentioned under letter a).

With the aid of the wrapping band of the invention, a carton cut tostandard measurements may be converted into a toy of the “lego®” type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the band in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same band;

FIG. 3 shows the band where two surface elements are positioned on a cutcarton;

FIG. 4 shows the same band where still another end element is positionedon the carton; and

FIG. 5 shows the finished toy;

FIG. 6 shows the finished toy of FIG. 5 in cross-section with an openframe having a plate in place for closing the lock;

FIG. 7 shows the finished toy as in FIG. 6 with the open frame having asingle plate for closing the opening;

FIG. 8 shows the finished toy as in FIG. 6 with the open end having twohinged plate for closing the opening; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of a further embodiment of a band in accordancewith the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The band (1), as mentioned in the introduction, comprises five surfaceelements.

a) The first surface element is an end element (2), adapted to coverpreferably the bottom, but optionally also the open end formed bycutting of, a carton (7).

Where cartons of the “elopak” type are concerned, this surface elementis square, but it may, of course, be given any shape at all depending onthe type of carton that one chooses to work with.

The end element (2) is provided with a slot (8) for engagement with thetongue (6) described below when the band in the invention is lockedaround a carton (7).

b) The surface element (2) is hinged to a top element (3) along a foldline (9 ^(I)).

The surface element (3) is provided with a plurality of pegs (10) which,as will be shown below, are adapted for engagement with correspondingholes (11) in a bottom element on another toy.

These pegs are arranged in rows and lines, where the axes of the rowsand lines are perpendicular to each other and where the distance tocenter for the pegs is constant.

For cartons of the “elopak” type it is practical to have two rows, butthe number of pegs in each row depends on the size to which the cartonis cut.

Here we can envision a large block having 8 pegs in two rows and anembodiment form that is half as large, this being with a squarearrangement with a peg in each corner.

c) This top element (3) is hinged to an end element (4) along the foldline (9 ^(II)).

This element (4) may have the form of an open frame if the objective isto make a building block having a cavity inside, for example torepresent a garage for toy cars.

The frame may be filled in, however, in such manner as to make a closedbuilding block.

It does not exceed the scope of the invention if the closure of theframe for element (4) is removable or has the form of a door, forexample, capable of being folded along a fold line in the longitudinaldirection of the wrapping band.

d) The end element (4) is, in turn, foldably hinged to the undersideelement (5) along the line (9 ^(III)).

The element (5) is provided with a plurality of holes (11), arrangedopposite pegs (10) in the surface element (3).

j) These holes are intended for receival of the pegs (10) on another toyand therefore have an inside diameter which sufficiently larger than theouter diameter of the pegs (10) as to enable the latter to be easilypushed into the holes and also easily withdrawn again.

It is conceivable here to provide for a form of stabilization lock, forexample with the aid of beads and corresponding grooves in the holes andon the pegs, respectively.

e) Finally, the surface element (5) is hinged to a tongue (6) along thefold line (9 ^(IV)).

The tongue has the general form of an optionally truncated arrowprovided with catches (12). This arrow is adapted for engagement withthe slot (8) in the surface element (2).

In FIG. 3 is shown a carton (7) where the end element (2) and the topelement (3) are put into position.

In this case, the carton is indicated as being open, and if the element(4) is also open as suggested above, it is possible to produce an openblock, as shown in FIG. (4).

FIG. 4 also illustrates the situation before the bottom element isfolded up under the carton.

FIG. 5 shows the finished block, where the element (5) is folded upunder the carton, and (not shown) the tongue (6) is inserted into theslot (8) for locking engagement with the aid of the catches (12).

FIG. 6 shows the finished block as in FIG. 5 in cross-section with anopen end 40 having a plate 44 attached to end 40 for closing theopening.

FIG. 7 shows the finished block as in FIG. 5 having open end 40 andincluding a single hinged plate 41 for closing the opening.

FIG. 8 shows the finished block as in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 having end 40including two hinged plates 42 and 43 for closing the opening.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment wherein a band 100 includes a first endelement 106 in the form of a tongue with catches 112, a top or bottomelement 103 having four pegs 110, a second end element 104 in the formof an open frame, a bottom or top element 105 having four holes 111corresponding to pegs 110 in element 103 and a second end element 112with a slot 108 for coupling with tongue 106.

The block which is obtained with the aid of the subject of thisinvention is relatively large and is excellently suited for smallerchildren.

The bands (1) according to the invention can be produced from anysuitable plastic material whatsoever, preferably return plastic,provided that existing regulations are complied with as regards safetyand health.

The bands may be marketed in stacks, together with an appurtenantpattern for cutting the cartons to the desired size; and the cartons arenevertheless to be found in large quantities in nearly every household,particularly in households where there are children who can use the toysproduced therefrom.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wrapping band for converting cut, standard foodcartons (7) into a toy, comprising a continuous band (1) formed withfive surface elements (2,3,4,5,6) each hinged to the adjacent element orelements along a line or lines perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection of the band (1), the surface elements along the longitudinaldirection being a) a first end element having closure slot (8) or aclosure tongue (6) for engagement; b) a first top or bottom element (3or 5) hinged to the first end element and having a plurality of circularpegs (10) or a plurality of holes (11); c) a second end element (4)hinged to the first top or bottom element (3 or 5); d) a second bottomor top element (5 or 3) hinged to the second end element (4) and havinga plurality of holes (11) or pegs (10), the number of hole or pegs inthe top or bottom element corresponding to the number of pegs or holesin the opposed top or bottom element (3 or 5); e) a fifth surfaceelement having a locking tongue (6) or closure slot (8) hinged to thetop or bottom element (3 or 5) for locking engagement with the slot (8)or tongue (6) in the first end element; f) the second end element beingan open frame; and g) a removable plate for closing the open frame inthe second end element.
 2. The band in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe tongue (6) is provided with catches (12) for locking engagement withthe slot (8).
 3. The band in accordance with claim 1, wherein that thepegs (10) and the holes (11) are arranged in pairs and in rows,perpendicular to and parallel with the longitudinal direction of theband (1).
 4. The band in accordance with claim 1, wherein the topelement (3 or 5) and the bottom element (5 or 3) have eight pegs (10)and holes (11) respectively.
 5. The band in accordance with claim 1,wherein the distance between centers for the pegs (10) and the holes(11), respectively, is constant in the longitudinal and the transversedirection of the band (1).
 6. The band in accordance with claim 1,including one plate for closing the open frame of second end element(4), with the one plate foldably hinged along one edge (13) of thesecond element (4).
 7. The band in accordance with claim 1, wherein thetop element (3 or 5) and the bottom element (5 or 3) have four pegs (10)and cooperating holes (11) respectively.
 8. The band in accordance withclaim 1, including two hinged plates for closing the open frame, the twoplates foldably hinged along both of the opposed edges (13) of thesecond end element (4).
 9. A wrapping band for converting cut, standardfood cartons into a toy, comprising a continuous band formed with fivesurface elements, each element hinged to the adjacent element orelements along a line or lines perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection of the band, the surface elements along the longitudinaldirection being a) a first end element having closure slot or a lockingtongue for engagement; b) a first connecting means bearing elementhinged to the first end element and having a plurality of connectingmeans, c) a second end element hinged to the first connecting meanselement; d) a second connecting means element hinged to the second endelement and having a plurality of connecting means for connecting withthe connecting means on the opposed connecting means element whenassembled, each element corresponding to the number of connecting meansin the opposed connecting means element; and e) a fifth surface elementhaving a locking tongue or closure slot hinged on adjacent connectingmeans element, the tongue or slot for locking engagement with the firstend element; f) the second end element being an open frame; and g) aremovable plate for closing the open frame in the open end element. 10.The band in accordance with claim 9, including one plate for closing theopen frame of second end element, with the one plate foldably hingedalong one edge of the second end element.
 11. The band in accordancewith claim 9, wherein the connecting element each have four pegs orholes each, respectively.
 12. The band in accordance with claim 9,including two hinged plates for closing the open frame with the twoplates, foldably hinged along both of the opposed edges of the open endelement.